Lawmakers pick seats in chambers, prep for session ahead…

As House members’ names are called in order of seniority so they can select their seats in the House chamber, Chief Clerk Bonnie Alexander called new Speaker Scott Bedke’s name, but said, “He has his seat.” In the group of lawmakers standing waiting for their turn, Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, chuckled, “He does - that’s an understatement.”

For those of equal seniority, Alexander is literally drawing the names out of a hat to see who goes first.